tips sex health

All me want to be healthy, and in many cases, they try and take care of themselves by watching what they eat, getting exercise on a regular basis, and managing the stress in their lives. But many men are unaware that they can also take care of their sexual health and prevent problems before they occur

Here are 10 tips for men to keep in mind for maximum sexual health:

• Eat a healthy diet – Many men are surprised to learn that what they eat can affect their sexual performance, but it does. By eating healthy foods that are rich in nutrients and low in fats, you will keep your “sexual” system in good working order. Strive for plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean cuts of meat, whole grains and low-fat milk.
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• Get regular exercise – Men who live a “couch potato” lifestyle may soon find themselves with sexual problems. By “getting up and moving” you will be taking an active role in maintaining your sexual health. Check with your physician, and then start a program of regular exercise that includes walking, cycling, tennis or whatever you find enjoyable.

• Stop smoking – Many doctors agree that smoking can be a major cause of sexual dysfunction in men. Studies have found that a major of men who suffer from ED are smokers, and that smoking can also reduce sperm count and quality. Smoking damages the small arteries that feed blood to the penis, making it difficult at times to maintain an erection.

• Reduce your alcohol intake – While you may enjoy the buzz you feel when you drink alcoholic beverages, you are putting yourself at risk for ED. Alcohol may make you feel sexier by lowering inhibitions, but it also reduces libido, causes erection problems, and often times impairs the ability to have an orgasm.

• Learn to manage stress in your life – Stress can leave you feeling exhausted, worried, uptight and very nervous, and can also lead to sexual problems as well. If you allow stress to manage your life, instead of the other way around, your life will soon feel as if it is out of control. Learn stress management techniques, find ways to handle anger and sadness, and you will be doing your part to maintain your sexual health (and your sanity).

• Do Kegel exercises – Usually associated with women, Kegel exercises can increase sexual enjoyment in men as well. Kegels are a way to strengthen the muscles that connect the base of the penis with the tailbone. These muscles act to control the flow of fluids through the urethra, so by learning how to control them, you can delay ejaculation to heighten your orgasm. To learn how these muscles feel, try stopping the flow of urine the next time you urinate. These are the muscles you need to tighten, so to do Kegels, just squeeze the muscles, hold them for a few seconds, and then relax them. By contracting these muscles, you gradually build up their strength, and your pleasure.

• Use lubricants – As men grow older, they often experience a gradual loss of sensitivity in their penis. Lubricants can help men with this problem to gain a freer range of motion, and increase sexual enjoyment.

• Have a yearly check-up with your doctor – It is no secret that men do not like going to the doctor, but if you want to maintain your overall (and sexual) health, you should make sure that you have a physical at least once a year.

• Avoid illegal substances – Unfortunately, some men will take illegal drugs to get high, thinking that it will enhance their sexual experience. But it most cases, it has the opposite effect. If you want to avoid ED, then avoid illegal substances.

• Maintain a positive attitude – Medical studies prove that men who have a positive attitude towards life also enjoy a problem free sex life as well. So, adjust your attitude to a positive one, and enjoy the benefits!
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Reading: From A to <A> Keywords of Markup

On the way to Colombia I started to read this book in order to review it - more on that to follow. I've only read four chapters so far and it is a fascinating read. A collection of essays each deals with a particular HTML tag and each so far provides new insights for me and resources.

When I came across the invitation for reviewers I read through the index. HTML 5 was not there so I thought the book might suffer from the rate of change in the interval from original conception to publication. Well HTML 5 is not in the index (just HTML), but it is in the text. Drupal and Ruby on Rails also get a mention.

Of particular interest is chapter 4 'alt' by Colleen A. Reilly which combines accessibility and definitions of disability.

I'll start writing the review soon for the Journal of Community Informatics trying to be more concise than previous efforts (I volunteered to learn too). As for W2tQ I've already found several interesting quotes too, such as the example below. This struck me because it's possible to describe h2cm as a keyword collage ...

<A> evokes collagist writings, "interesting networks that open up a conceptual map" McLuhan (258).
Indeed, collage often is the focus of this type of educational/digital education or writing that asks students to merge texts and ideas. <A>, as a social space, though, is not a collage. As a network, <A> builds relationships while also becoming relationships. To enact a pedagogy of <A>, I have to imagine a social software logic as opposed to connection or merging among things. That logic is not bound to a specific platform, such as the Web, but instead informs institutional practices through the generation of large-scale spaces.p.61.

Importance of Health Insurance

In those countries where medicine is not socialized, good health insurance can be the key to getting good health care. Those without it often put off seeing the doctor because of the expense involved. Things often get more serious and more costly to take care of than if they had gotten medical care sooner. Having private health insurance opens up your choices and makes decisions about your health much easier to make.

Health Insurance Coverage
Health insurance is meant to cover a variety of medical expenses. The following are covered under many policies, but since every policy is different, be sure to check with your health insurance agent or financial planner to see precisely what yours does and does not cover.

1- Hospitalizations
2- Surgeries
3- Physician Visits
4- Preventative Health Care
5- Laboratory Tests
6- Mental Health
7- Certain Medical Equipment
8- Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy
9- Prescription Drugs
10- Dental Care
11- Rehabilitation Costs
12- Vision Care

Individual & Family Health Insurance Plans:
If you are in the market for health insurance to guard you and your family, you should know that you can get health insurance in a number of several ways.

1. Individual Health Insurance is often used by people who do not have the choice of group coverage. It allows for a tailor-made policy that fits accurately what the person needs. This type of insurance is usually relatively cheap compared to a group plan. The cost of an individual health insurance plan will typically be about half the cost of a group health insurance plan for the same benefit total.

2. Group Health Insurance from an Employer is a much more affordable type of health insurance only when your employer will pay for most or the entire premium (which many employers will do). Because premiums are based on the group as entire, the risk is spread out over many people. These policies are often the most expensive and the most accepted type of private health coverage. One of the benefits to group health insurance coverage is that one cannot typically be denied coverage due to pre existing conditions or other health problems. There may sometimes be a waiting period if one has not maintained continuous coverage but everybody will accept.

3. Group Health Insurance From A Non Employer Group is another option to think for obtaining health coverage. For those who have no policy available through work or an inadequate one, group rates can be getting from church groups, professional and business associations such as a Chamber of Commerce. This can help you obtain health insurance if you are unable to obtain an individual health insurance policy due to your health.

4. Short Term Health Insurance is a plan that as it’s name implies only offers coverage for a short amount of time, usually anywhere from 1 month to 1 year (although some short term plans offer coverage up to 3 years). Although short term health insurance plans are typically very cheap; they are also typically very bare bones coverage and should never be relied upon as a long term solution to finding reasonable health insurance coverage.

5. Student Health Insurance is habitually either a temporary health insurance plan offered through the university or college and may sometimes be available through a private insurance company.

Children Diabetes Symptoms Signs

However, it’s not easy to diagnose signs of diabetes in children especially in young children, but it is a wrench discovery for any parent that his child is suffering from the signs of diabetes. However it is better to diagnose the problem at your earliest than to miss these signs of diabetes in children.
An approximation says that every year around 12 thousand people are being diagnosed with diabetes type 1. It is true that taking care of a child is a time consuming process. Even if the parents are vigilant, there are always chances of missing the signs of diabetes in children. It becomes easier to detect the signs of diabetes in children if the parents are well aware of the diabetic symptoms.

Diabetes Sign in Children.

The answer would be of great help for all those parents who have a family history of diabetes.

Dramatic Weight Loss: This is another signs of diabetes in children. Some other reasons of dramatic weight loss are cancer or side effects of drugs. If a child drastically loses weight in a short span of time then it is a dangerous sign no matter diabetes is involved or not.

Recurrent Urge to Urinate: If you ever feel that your child is feeling an urge to urinate or if all of a sudden he starts bed wetting then the parents must keep in mind that it could be the warning diabetic symptom.
However if this is the only symptom then it is better to look for other illnesses. There could be several reasons for excessive urination like urinary tract infection or inability to completely empty the bladder. However it is better to consult doctor if your child is having a recurrent urge to urinate.

Excessive Hunger: A person who is suffering from diabetes feels extremely hungry. It seems that he is eating continually but still he does not put on mass.
The underlying reason is that his body is unable to utilize the food he is eating. The food is only flowing through his whole body.

An Insatiable Urge To Drink Water: The children suffering from diabetes, the fluids are extracted from the tissues of the body.

When the sugar builds up in bloodstream it reaches a point where the body of the diabetics sufferer needs to get rid of surplus glucose. The only way to expel surplus glucose is via urine; however the urine cannot be created without water. If there is not enough water in the bloodstream then no other choice is left behind except for extracting water from nearby tissues. This then makes the body dehydrated. Dehydration then kicks in thirst mechanism.

It is not likely that child is able to detect the diabetic symptoms. It is therefore the duty of the parents to detect the signs of diabetes in children.

Person centred care, wormholes, pesterers and care domains (ii)

Person centred care, wormholes, pesterers and care domains (i)

Mentor: Sorry my friend where were we up to?

Student: I am still puzzled as to how we can define and represent person centered care? Where does person centered care fit in h2cm (Hodges' health career model)?

The INDIVIDUAL-GROUP vertical axis places the person, the individual - at the top of the model. That could be a positive if we are thinking hierarchically, but shouldn't a model that is situated AND person centred be explicit and put the person at the center?

Mentor: This is a good question and you are right to ask it. As our previous discussions have illustrated our models are idealised and yet they should reflect the real world and experiences they seek to model and re-present for us:

Student: but in this case....?

Mentor: Well, not so quick...

As we noted the World's governments get the citizenry they deserve and vice-versa. If peace, political engagement, legitimate government and contentment are not a given but have to be earned then is person centred care any different?

Student: So, you are saying that peace, being a citizen, and mm... well-being I suppose are in a sense similar to person centered care?

Mentor: Perhaps?

Student: That seems quite a leap.

Mentor: Well your question prompts exercise - a certain gymnastics even - and with that a daily requirement we'll save this point for another time.

For now though... I know we don't necessarily need a precise definition of person centered care at the moment, but humour me and see what you can come up with in terms of this model of care. As you have mentioned it includes the INDIVIDUAL, the GROUP. And with the interpersonal and science domains the person's mind and body are literally in the frame.

Student: Well unless we are talking medical emergency then person centered care is about ensuring the individual is taken into account across all the domains of care.

That is - intra-interpersonal, physically - through the sciences, socially and politically. 

Oh - and spiritually too of course.

Mentor: So person centered or being person centered concerns domains of care?

Student: No. It's the content that matters. Take the interpersonal and myself as an example - what are my beliefs, previous experiences, writing skills and interests, my mood, disposition and attitude towards others. That only scratches the surface.

Mentor: I see. Can you go on from there...?

Student: Well I suppose each domain is visited according to various cues - and this is where context and situation come in. These supply the cues. They determine what is significant, what counts as information. For experienced nurses and health care practitioners this travel within and across the care domains comes as second nature.

Mm... I suspect that even if someone was not using h2cm explicitly their cognitive - conceptual movement could still be traced through the model, like passes on a football pitch.

Mentor: Very poetic! So if these care domains are being reflected upon does that mean person centered care is a consequence?

Student: Well I suppose it could if you take your mention of 'reflection' literally. Yes, picture the patient - the person - in the center of the h2cm matrix. We might even argue that our reflections place them there? Within the model what is the position of the person? If our deliberations could be measured - and practically that would be quite a task given patient engagement and dialogue - then is there an average across the domains? And is that the center - hence person centered?

Mentor: An interesting idea. And yet as you questioned initially the INDIVIDUAL in the model is at the top, at the top of an irregular continuum, so...?

Most typical face in the world revealed (amid deep irony)

National Geographic Magazine has revealed what the most typical human on the planet looks like.…

There is a deep irony here (since we are talking about 'skin') in that as the global demographics flow across the decades to alter this typical face, there is a growing proportion of the population who hope that health and social care delivery is not typical and a 'composite'.

They hope that health, nursing and social care is truly personal and individual - taking in their preferences, needs and priorities.

Having said that though - would it be progress if everyone could expect at least to receive what is deemed a 'standard' level of basic nursing care that is in a way 'typical'?

more to follow - more will follow - are we ready?

Notes (ii) from Paipa Conference: Q & A

Q. What is the appeal and relevance of Michel Serres to the Health Care Domains Model [h2cm]?
c/o Fred Manrique / UPTC 

(As per the paper - Exploring Serres’ Atlas, Hodges’ Knowledge Domains and the Fusion of Informatics and Cultural Horizons. 2008)

A. I cannot remember how I came across this French philosopher (Bruno Latour?), but in 2004 I started to read some of his translated texts. Serres' work is not easy to read, but rewards perseverance. Thus enthused I wrote (in my spare time) and eventually submitted a paper to a prestigious nursing journal. This was rejected - twice. Using the feedback I was able to produce the paper that found publication in the informatics field. This is listed in the W2tQ bibliography. Serres' ideas were remarkable in how they spoke to me and reflected in many ways the conceptual framework of h2cm. I need to revisit Serres, but ideas of particular appeal include his use of several tropes:

• Harlequin: the uninvited guest (disease, illness?), mischief (health taken-for-grantedness), chaos (the unpredictable);
• blanc: in my presentation I included a blank slide. There it represents every new person, new page - no judgements, positive regard. A page for lifelong learners and being able to self-reflect.
• Hermes: the Greek God, the messenger - information and Serres' early study of information science. The 'underworld' - nursing and medicine - are not for everyone. The importance of ports as a means of information and cultural exchange - today economies see themselves as information ports and the rise of information portals.
• Serres states (as do other commentators) that the Internet will provide opportunities for new scholars, outside of established academic institutions.
• borders, boundaries - the middle: in life we often have to ask do we continue and cross the middle?
• The Planet: Serres is concerned for how we treat the planet. The health care domains can also be utilised to explore the physical and psychological impacts of climate change and the need to attend to human ecology. We are rocking the boat - Earth is our boat.
• ... plus many others - fluid, dynamics, life - rivers - choices, narratives, Home, Angels, statues.

Finally, within "... S E R R E S ..." you will also find H2CM!  

Please see the bibliography for the paper and contact me for a copy if you wish.

Additional links:
Serres on this blog.
http://michelserres.blogspot.com/

More Q and A to follow plus photos and slides. Photo source (PJ, Copenhagen shop window, 2010)

NIH: Suggest social justice items for Electronic Health Records

My source: Spirit of 1848 list [The collaborative tool is very interesting]
Let's make suggestions for inclusion of social justice factors in Electronic Health Records by participating in the NIH activity described below.

Dear colleague,

Your input is requested to help make recommendations for a standardized set of patient-reported variables to be collected in primary care and public health electronic health records (EHRs), which will lead to unprecedented data harmonization and opportunities for health research. In order to participate in this process:

• Please visit the website for the collaborative tool: www.gem-beta.org
• Click on the blue button at the top titled "EHR Campaign." Or alternatively, click on the News tab and then the associated EHR campaign title.
• Read the summary statements written by the expert panels
• Enter your comments on the recommended measures, and if needed, suggest alternative measures (see attachment for detailed instructions).
• Forward this request to your colleagues who may be interested in this initiative

Comments will be accepted through April 4, 2011.

Background about this Collaborative Effort

Several institutes within the National Institutes of Health in collaboration with the Society of Behavioral Medicine are coordinating an effort to identify a core set of brief, practical measures to recommend for use in adult primary care and public health electronic health records (EHRs), and we are inviting you and all members of your affiliated organizations to join this collaborative effort.

The HITECH Act and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act place new emphasis on the widespread and meaningful use of electronic health records (EHRs). This is an important advance, with one significant exception: Currently EHRs fail to capture data reflecting crucial health behaviors and psychosocial issues. Such patient-reported variables are both health outcomes themselves, and major determinants of other health outcomes.

To address the critical need for patient-reported data, we are organizing an effort to evaluate and recommend actionable, patient-reported measures of health behaviors and psychosocial factors for use in electronic health records (EHRs) within adult primary care and public health settings. In order to facilitate broad participation in the development of standard measures we are using a three-phase process of consensus building.

In the first phase panels of subject matter experts were convened for each of 13 behavioral domains to review available measures and to recommend up to 4 reliable, practical measures for each domain that would be appropriate to utilize in primary care and public health settings and to be reported in EHRs.

*Your input is being requested for the second and third phases of the project.*

For the second phase we are using the NCIs Grid-Enabled Measures (GEM) Database to gather feedback from all stakeholders. In order to participate in this process, please visit the GEM website, www.gem-beta.org, and click on the blue button at the top titled "EHR Campaign." Or alternatively, click on the News tab and the associated header for the EHR campaign. Begin by reading the summary statements written by the expert panels, view the recommended measures, enter your comments on the recommended measures, and if needed, suggest alternative measures. Comments will be accepted through April 4, 2011.

The third phase will be a workshop/town hall meeting on May 2, 2011 at the NIH bringing together scientists, practitioners, policy makers, and patient/consumer representatives to review the results of this campaign and make recommendations on standard consensus measures for behavioral health and health behavior screening in primary care and public health settings. We encourage everyone interested in this effort to participate, and more information about this meeting will be forthcoming. Immediately following this workshop there will be a closed session meeting of key stakeholders to make final recommendations based on feedback obtained from the GEM tool and the open meeting.

Workshop participants will receive a summary of the meeting as well as information on final recommendations. Subsequent to the meeting, organizers and key stakeholders will discuss strategies to build support and implement plans to advance the adoption and incorporation of a core set of patient-reported behavioral and psychosocial measures in primary care and public health EHRs.

We truly thank you for your participation in this project to standardize the collection of behavioral data in EHRs because it will enable the collaborative group to put forth the best possible recommendations and ultimately improve patient outcomes.

Sincerely,

The EHR Measures Meeting Planning Committee
Maureen P Boyle, Ph.D.
AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow
Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research
Office of the Director, NIH
31 Center Drive, Building 31, Room B1-C19; MSC 2027
Bethesda, MD 20892-2027

Notes (i) from Paipa Conference: Q & A and sessions

Questions from the delegates (once more interpreted by Andrea Ramirez) at the plenary session on Friday 25th February included  - with my response (extended here):

Q. Could you please give some specific examples of the model's application and its achievements?

A. The model was created by Brian Hodges to facilitate reflective practice and encourage holistic care - especially balancing physical and mental health - psychological - care. In the mid-1980s the model was used in several locations in England and the Isle of Man. The model was taught and learning assessed through case studies in community mental health nursing, learning disability and health visiting.

As highlighted in the presentation unlike other models of care h2cm has not had the benefit of specific research. The models of care we use must be evidenced based. The website and blog represent a call for research in the health care domains model. This is why I appreciate so much this invitation to Colombia and being able to present what I believe is a very useful and increasingly relevant care resource.

In terms of achievement there are an as yet limited number of papers published and listed on the blog in a bibliography.

A couple of individuals have contacted me for advice on using the model in academic work, which has also been posted on the blog (see application).

In my presentation and the plenary I did not mention the planned workshop in the afternoon!

Q. What has been the experience of applying the model in the practice (clinical area) and in the community?

A. The model is used in two centers for forensic psychiatry (low and medium secure) where the inclusion of the interpersonal and political care domains are pivotal in the tensions between the custodial context and need for person-centred nursing care that arise.

In forensic nursing the model informs care philosophy and is also represented in care documentation. A paper is in production describing the model and this application.

The model is I understand being used in a research project investigating bullying within midwifery. I will post more details on this when I have them. The researchers approached me seeking permission to use the model, I indicated the model's origin - as in "It is not 'mine'", and furnished a letter indicating the model's status. I understand the appeal of the model in this instance may be in scoping the research project.

Currently the model is helping me in my role (as a Nursing Home Liaison Specialist) to plan and deliver education sessions to residential care staff on communicating with people who are coping with dementia.

Being simple in structure and basic content once learned the model is accessible as an aide memoire, while you are assessing, planning and evaluating.

I have also used the model when working on informatics projects, as the model can help integrate the SOCIAL and TECHNICAL aspects of ICT.

More Q and A to follow plus photos.